Kochi, February 24 The Kerala High Court heard arguments on a petition seeking to overturn the public viewing certificate granted to 'The Kerala Story 2 - Goes Beyond'.
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas will continue to hear arguments on the matter after lunch, sources said.
The court will then decide whether to view the film before its scheduled release on February 27, the sources said.
The petition has been filed by Sreedev Namboodiri of Kannavam in Kannur district, who has also named the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), and producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah as respondents in the writ petition filed last week.
Besides seeking the cancellation of the certification, the petition also seeks certain modifications, including a reconsideration of the film's title.
The petitioner claims that the CBFC certified the film for public viewing allegedly without complying with the statutory mandate under the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
According to the petition, the issue arises from the teaser and trailer of the film, which portray narratives involving women from multiple states, yet brand the content as 'The Kerala Story', thereby associating alleged incidents of terrorism, forced conversion, and demographic conspiracy exclusively with the state of Kerala.
"Such a portrayal has the potential to stigmatize an entire regional population, disturb public order, and incite communal and regional disharmony," the petition states.
